Rotating cylinder type of bean cleaning machines



Jan. 4, 1949. w, HENRY 2,458,267

ROTATING CYLINDER TYPE OF BEAN CLEANING MACHINES Filed Sept. 21, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 JG N. HENRY Patented Jan. 4, 1949 ROTATING- GYLINDERTYPE "on BEAN CLEANING MACHINES James WallaceHenry, .Gooding; Idaho Application'septeinb'er 21,1945,'seria1 No. 617,833

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to mechanical sorters or separators and is more particularly concerned with a-poweredmachine for separating beans and the like from-iforeign' sub'stanc'es such as green night-shade berries,.rock, clods 1:.

and trash in the process of re-cleaning.

One'of the objects of the invention is to pro- "vide a powered machine of ith character described -which will readily separate beans 'from ?foreign -matter and deliver each to .:.separate receptacles.

"Another: object of the invention is tmprovide =a"device f. the character mentioned, on simpler and moretcompact construction than is disclosed 1 in prior devices.

With the foregoing andother objects-and advantages-in view, the inventionconsists of the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

Int-the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention,

Figure l is a side elevation of the invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section thereof.

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section on line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary top plan of the high speed cylinder and related parts.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary horizontal section on line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Like numerals in the description and drawings designate the same parts of construction.

The frame of the machine, which may be constructed of light steel or wood, is rectangular and comprises longitudinal side bars i, vertical bars 2 mounted on a portable base 3 and vertical supports 6 for the open top and bottom hopper 5. The supports 4 are secured to side bars 1 intermediate their ends. Hopper E is provided at its lower front with a transverse discharge port or opening 511 which can be regulated by a vertically adjustable gate 6. The adjustment is made by means of a threaded bolt 7 at each side working in horizontally disposed arms 8 secured to the top of the gate. Bolts 1 are reduced at the ends and rotatably contained in lugs 9 which are secured to the front of the hopper. Hand Wheels 90 are provided for turning of the bolts.

The floor H of the hopper is separated therefrom and supported on transverse rolls l2. The substantially horizontal floor is stationary but tiltable and its front which extends forwardly from the hopper 5 to constitute a ledge, is beveled on the underside, as at Ila. Metal strips 14 are secured to the underside of the floor H adjacentthe vertical supports 4 and are shaped wi'th stirrup-like bends at front and-rear. These are for'therolls' l2 to pass through. Extending eccentrically from the ends of' the rolls are 's tud spindles l6 whichare mounted'inbearings "It attached to the supports l. 'Thesespindles are rotatable by crank handles l1 and the rotation thereof imparts-a cam-like movement to'therolls which is adapted to-tilt the fioor II as may'be desired.

By adjusting floor l I "through rollers I 2 the distance of the forward edge-above cylinder 24 can be definitely fixed for any particular size of beansor the like. This adjustment is important as the distance between the forward edge offloor H and cylinder'zd-should be suiiicient'topermit the beans to roll downward between the floor and cylinder but noted greatas to permit the-beans t'o bounce-on the cylinder.

-A plate 8 is interposed betwe'en'the-open 'botlatter. It extends, at the front, through the opening 5a and to a point back of the front edge of the floor. At its rear the plate extends rear- Wardly a suitable distance back of the hopper where it is attached by shackle-bolts l9 to the arms 20. The opposite ends of arms 26 are pivotally attached to levers 2| which are pivoted to frame members 2 at 2|a and have their other ends pivoted to links 22 connected to eccentric studs 25 on the ends of the cylinder shaft 23 of a high speed rotary cylinder 24. The eccentric action of the studs rocks the levers 2| and reciprocates plate 18 producing a slow movement of the beans toward the cylinder 24.

Cylinder 24 is constructed of metal with a smooth, highly polished surface and its shaft is rotatably mounted in bearings on the forward end of the frame. This cylinder is connected by pulley 26 and belt 21 to a motor M and is adapted to revolve at a high rate of speed so as to carry off foreign matter once it obtains traction thereon. The cylinder is positioned in advance of the hopper floor II but its perimeter is separated from the front edge thereof by a suitable gap, as indicated. It may desirably be positioned vertically so that its top point is above the plane of floor II. In front and back of the cylinder are receiving bins 2,8 and 29 which are attached to the frame of the machine and provided at the bottom with discharge spouts 3B and 3! for the purpose to be explained hereinafter.

In operation the beans, which are usually smooth and commingled with foreign matter, which is usually rough, are fed into the hopper volving cylinder which, it will be noted, is rotating away from the floor II. Because of the high speed of the cylinder the only matter contacting y it which will obtain enough traction to remain thereon will be the foreign substances.

The beans being smooth and unable to obtain traction will fall off the cylinder and down the gap between the floor and cylinder. They are thus separated from the foreign matter and drop into rear bin 29 While the foreign matter is carried over and drops from the cylinder into bin 28." If the mixture is being fed to the cylinder too fast or too slow the flow can be adjusted by tilting plate I8, as desired.

While the described embodiment of the invention is deemed preferable on account of its extreme simplicity and effectiveness, I am aware that the invention can be embodied in various other specific forms Without departing from the spirit thereof, and I therefore desire the present embodiment to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive and refer to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, an open bottom hopper provided with a frontal discharge opening adjacent its bottom, a tiltable substantially horizontal floor provided with a frontal ledge, a reciprocatory,

superimposed plate adapted to move the contents 4 cylinder provided with a highly polished surface and positioned longitudinally adjacent the ledge of said floor but separated therefrom by a transverse gap and positioned vertically so that the upper surface of its periphery is above said ledge, a motor adapted to rotate the cylinder at a high rate of speed in a direction away from the hopper, a vertically adjustable gate adapted to regulate the flow of matter through the discharge opening of the hopper and means for reciprocating said superimposed plate to feed material from the hopper on to the cylinder.

2. The device set forth in claim 1, the said reciprocating means comprising rocker arms Operated by eccentric studs on the ends of the cylinder shaft and adapted to operate pivotal arms connected to the rear end of said. plate and impart a reciprocatory movement thereto.

JAMES WALLACE HENRY.

REFERENCES strap The following references are of record UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 36,653 Kathan Oct. 14, 1862 277,530 Ziegler May 15, '1883 345,633 Hungerford July 13, 1886 553,774 Brakeley Jan. 28, 1896 1,164,953 Newborne Dec. 21, 1915 1,214,189 I Laumeister Jan. 30, 1917 1,318,003 Wheeler et a1. Oct. 7, 1919 1,744,967 Johnson Jan. 28, 1930 1,813,519 Varusky July 7, 1931 2,314,593 Medcalf Mar. 23, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 302,021 Great Britain Dec. 13, 1928 

